I know, it's been awhile. I'm moving apartments, moving offices and building out the new one, planning to move cities, hosting various international visitors, and playing the C Game on Sporcle (40), all while in the midst of the always-insane tutoring company spring. Not a calm time.

To add to that, because I'm moving to a new apartment and soon after, a probably-small New York apartment-- I need to sell all my stuff. And I have a lot of stuff.

See, I'm a pack rat. I like buying stuff I don't need. And I hate throwing things away. The result is stuff. A lot of stuff. And it's time to get rid of it.

I need to get rid of my all my furniture, kitchen stuff, useless old clothes, my beloved piano, and everything else I've accumulated over the past five years. All I want to keep is my computer / keyboard / music-making equipment, the 12 items of clothes I actually wear, and my books.

So I've been trying to figure out how to sell all of this. eBay would probably work, but I'm frightened of eBay, I've never been there, and I don't know how to do it. So that left me with Craigslist. I posted a bunch of ads a few days ago, and one of two things ensued with each of the various ads:

1) I'd get no bites at all because the price I set was too high.2) I'd get a bite and panic that it was because the price was too low and tell the prospective buyer that it was no longer available.

So we're off to a rough start. But there has been a bright spot:

Some of the higher-priced items I've posted have caught the eyes of various scammers.

I don't know who they are or where they are or exactly what the scam is, but it goes like this:

They email and ask if the item is still available

When I say yes, they say they want to buy it and since they are in a foreign country at the moment they will trust my word that it's in good condition and send me the money via PayPal.

Then, supposedly, they will send their "mover" to my apartment to pick up the item-- and only after I have received the money.

Out of curiosity, I read about Craigslist scams online. Apparently what happens is that they end up sending you a fake check or money order that the bank will actually cash, but then a couple weeks later the bank will realize that it was a fake and hold you accountable. Of course, the "buyer" will be nowhere to be found, and your expensive item will be long gone. Or sometimes they find a way to get your bank account info.

Hello,Am interested in purchasing your item,let me know if its stillavailable for sale. Thanks and get to me as soon as possible.

Me (thinking it's legit):

Still available. You can come by and check it out tomorrow if you're interested. Call me for more info.

Thanks,Tim

Jenifer:

Thanks for getting back to me, i prefer emailing while dealing oncraigslist for a record purpsoe Moreover,i want you to aware that ampresently not in the States to complete the transaction in person andalso want you to know that am sending this item to a colleague for animportant purpose.I will be responsible for all shipping expensesovernight via FEDEX ,so i will add $100 for shipping cost......and iwill prefer paying for the item via PayPal, so Kindly get back to mewith your PayPal email Address so that i can send the payment to youas soon as possible.

Regards,Jenifer

Me (now knowing it's a scam):

PayPal? What's PayPal? Sounds awfully naughty.

Jenifer:

I really understand your concern but i want you to know that am outhere on an official duty ...I would have prefer to do this in personbut no way i can meet up now...For your payment,i want you to knowthat paypal is safe and secure mean to complete a transaction of thisnature.With paypal,you need not to give out your personal informationfor you to get paid,you can visit www.paypal.com to know better aboutthe service and sign up there.It is easy signing up.

Thanks and get to me ASAP. I will give it as a gift.

Me:

A gift! A gift for whom? And what is the occasion?

Jenifer:

My friend,for Birthday.

Me:

Nice! How old?

Jenifer:

35 years.

Me:

Old! Is there a party? Is the watch going to be your gift?

Jenifer:

Yes the watch need to be gift wrap.

Me:

What color wrapping would you prefer? I have yellow. And the funny pages!___________

And that's where Jenifer and I are at the moment. Here's another:

Kay Max (kaysquare03@googlemail.com):

Hello,

Would like to know if the item is still available for sale and what is itspresent condition? Am interested in its purchase.

Await Your Response..Kay...

Me:

Hi Kay,

It's in excellent condition-- you can come by tomorrow to check it out.

Thanks,Tim

Kay:

Hello,

Thanks for the swift response, just to let you know that am okay withthe condition and price of the item, am ready for its purchase and myform of payment will be by sending you Check via UPS next daydelivery.Pls take the item off craigslist so no other buyer can ask aboutit.I'll be responsible for the pick-up as i have a pick company toschedule an appropriate time for the pick-up at your location aftercheck has been cashed.I would have really love to come for the viewing but due to my workframe that might not be possible.Please do get back to me with your full name and address includingyour cell and land number so i can make out payment.

Regards.

Kay...

Me:

Thanks, Kay. My address is:

257,203,825 Slippery CircleDusty Trail, Idaho 93339

Kay:

Hi ,how was your day ?I want you to understand that the deal is on andmy secretary as posted the payment promptly, but there was a littleproblem which i guess we can handle with care. i contacted her toconfirm if the payment as been mail out but she said my boss issued asingle check of $3,600 for your item and other items bought.The paymentwas already posted before i was informed. but i wouldn't wantthis to delay the sale. All you have to do once you have the payment is tohave it cashed and you will deduct the money for your item plus $50for your running around. The excess fund on the payment will then bewired to my mover via Moneygram or western union that same day so hecan come for pick up as i already plan on using theexcess on the payment to offset the cost of the various shipments heas undertaken on my behalf.Do let me know if i can trust you to havethe excess sent to my mover thank you.best Regards.Kay...

Me:

Kay! I swear, if your head weren't attached to your confounded shoulders, you would have lost IT by now!!___________

I am yet to hear back from Kay. Here's one more:

Thomas Scott (thomas.scott88@gmail.com):

Hey there, how as your day been? I saw your advert on craigslist and iwill like know if its still available to sale or sold out..

ThanksThomas .S.Todd

Me:

Still available. If you'd like to come by and see it, let me know.

Thanks,Tim

Thomas:

In regards to your response I'll like to buy it as gift for my kid so I'll like to know the current condition of the item! actually i supposed to come and check it but im currently busy this month with my work and i want to send it to my kids schooling in Jiangxi China and for the payment i will pay you via paypal also i'll include $120 for the shipping via USPS PRIORITY MAIL INTL. so you can get back to me with your paypal email address so that i can proceed with the payment at once.Reply Asap.Thomas

Me:

Paypal? What the devil is paypal?

Thomas:

It is a method of payment which you will have to sign up for anaccount with a credit card or your bank account and just get back tome with your paypal email id so i can issue out the payment and paypalwill credit your account after you got the confirmation mail that ihave issue out the payment.

Me:

Sounds mad complicated. You're a squeaky fella, aren't you Thomas?

Thomas:

Am not in state and paypal is safe and secured so send me your paypal email id for the payment.

Me:

So where are you? Somewhere lively I sure do hope!

Thomas:

Am in uk for a business as i have told you and i want to send the itemto my daughter so send me your paypal email id for the payment.

Me:

Daughter, eh? Growl! Pic?___________

Unfortunately, I am yet to hear back from Thomas. Finally, one of my new friends decided to gchat with me today:

12:10 AM kelvincollins2004: Hi

12:12 AM me: howdy

12:13 AM kelvincollins2004: Am the buyer to your item on craigslist

12:14 AM me: duh. which item?

kelvincollins2004: Movado Watch

12:15 AM me: you like movados?

are you a big watch guy?

kelvincollins2004: what do you mean

me: are you really into watches?

do you know about all the different kinds of movados?

kelvincollins2004: No i want to buy it for my son

12:16 AM me: is he into watches?

i have a couple that could work for him

how old is he?

kelvincollins2004: 21 years

me: oh, he's out drinking and getting laid for sure!

kelvincollins2004: so send me your paypal email id so i can issue out the payment for the watch

me: and what type of watches does he like?

12:17 AM i have a few different ones

kelvincollins2004: the watch listed on craislist

me: we should figure out which one is best for him

there are a few i put on craigslist

i'm selling a sporty one

and a more sassy oneand another that screams to the world, "i'm good enough."

kelvincollins2004: Ok

12:18 AM send me your paypal email id so i can issue out the payment

me: oh kelvin you rascal

kelvincollins2004: bye for nowme: lates

kelvincollins2004: ok

will be waiting for your paypal email id in my email box

12:19 AM me: with baited breath no doubt!

_____________

At this point, I have so many new friends, I don't know what to do with them all. I may have to throw a party for everyone.

12 comments:

Anonymous
said...

See ,this is why I do nutn' online.Besides not knowing what to do withmy own information let alone anyoneelse's.

Spring cleaning appears to includeso much more now ,re-location andbeing stolen from.

This is both hilarious and a very sad side effect of the internet. Of course what is sad is how many people have probably fallen for such a pitch - uh - if it sounds too good to be true then um it might be. Just a few weeks ago - same deal - girlfriend selling a fridge on craigslist and gets the same (I'm out of the country but want to buy it unseen and include extra money for the trouble etc) ... luckily she asked me what I thought (grin).

I have the same reaction ... time permitting ... I'll engage in email conversations while playing dumb like I'm going for it but never revealing anything. They certainly can be crafty.

Unrelated ... is it a coincidence that manny takes a pe and then all of a sudden you leave town ? What's up with that?

More unrelated ... are you still doing your tutoring in New York as in drumming up all new business or is it something you just do online with paypal and moneygrams - haha.

I'm way behind but have them all on TiVo. I will say that after episode one I spent an hour watching YouTube clips of Andrew Dice Clay being a psycho. The Tom Green "hitting" clip is amazing, as is the CNN explosion. What a bad man.

Uggh there are scammers for job postings on Craigslist also. I applied to one job, where the "employer" emailed me back saying that he had an A/R job where they'll send me checks. I deposit them, keep 10% and then forward on the rest. Umm what kind of job is that??So be careful with Craigslist...it can be great ( I did find my last job on Craigslist) but it can also be very creepy.

Thanks for the swift response, just to let you know that am okay withthe condition and price of the item, am ready for its purchase and myform of payment will be by sending you Check via UPS next daydelivery.I'll be responsible for the pick-up and the pick up money willbe included in your payment to avoid delay and to enable pick upcompany to schedule an appropriate time for the pick-up at yourlocation after check has been cashed,as i have other properties to be

Hello,please let me know if you are still having this item for sale.I am interested.

-----------------------------------------

Second email:

jenifer smith -jsimth21 at gmail.com-

Thanks for getting back to me,i want you to aware that i won't be able to complete the transaction in person due to the nature of my job and also want you to know that am giving this item to someone special to me and i will prefer it ship directly to her location so as to meet the need.I will be responsible for all shipping expenses overnight via FEDEX,so i will be adding 100$ for the shipping and i prefer paying you via PayPal,so Kindly get back to me with your PayPal address for me to process your payment as soon as possible.

Regards.

------------------------------------------

Third email:

From: jenifer smith -jsimth21 at gmail.com-

I am in Canada Now but i am sending it to a friend international,paypal will provide you with the shipping information once the transfer is been made,You can visit www.paypal.com to know more about them and it easy signing up with than, All i need is your paypal registered email.

Thanks and get to me ASAP.

------------------------------------------

My response correspondence with "jenifer" came after another inquiry for the $1,200 item who offered to buy the item sight unseen. This person could not meet me in person, wanted to pay using Paypal and also offered $100 for shipping.

My final last response to Jenifer was a request for information that would allow me to verify her identity. I let her know that I've been ripped off in the past and had to contact the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Authorities.

So far the last email I received read "WHY ALL THIS?" She obviously didn't like the fact that I wanted to be sure she was who she said she was.

I googled her email and found your blog.

I've had 95% positive experiences with CL. Typically I sell lower cost items and deal with people locally. I've even made some friends through these transactions. I recommend that anyone selling items on CL do not ship internationally and require some kind of verification of the identity of the seller. Ideally transactions are done locally, but I recently sold a higher priced item to someone in Florida. I spoke with him on the phone, verified his identity on the Web using a variety of searches and the transaction was excellent.

Thanks again for sharing this information about -jenifer smith jsimth21 at gmail.com.